Tangible Ways to Improve Day-to-Day Safety Performance

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How STEP influences the role of a superintendent through leadership, culture, process + results By Joe Xavier Our people are our greatest asset, and we must take advantage of every opportunity to leverage and advance world-class safety for the construction workforce of more than 7.5 million. Safety is an essential pillar of Associated Builders and Contractors’ mission, and we strive to ensure all construction workers go home in the same — or better — condition than when they arrived on the jobsite or at the office. One of the most important tools in the journey to safety is the STEP … Read more

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Planning is Paramount: Crane Utilization on Vertical Construction Projects

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By Robert Pavelka When it comes to managing and mitigating risks on construction jobsites, few activities require a greater level of awareness or more extensive preplanning than the deployment of cranes. Whether it is a fixed tower crane that is brought in and assembled on the construction site for use throughout the project, or a mobile crane such as a crawler, hydraulic or vehicle-mounted variety, cranes have long been an essential tool for builders to effectively and efficiently erect their vertical construction projects. But the consequences of inadequate planning and errors in execution can be dire. According to the U.S. … Read more

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April Construction Unemployment Rates down in 49 States Year over Year, Says ABC

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In April, for the second month in a row, estimated not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates fell nationally and in 49 states on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data by Associated Builders and Contractors. Mississippi was the only state with an increase, where construction unemployment rose from 9.2% in April 2018 to 10% in the most recent report. As the April 2019 national NSA construction unemployment rate fell 1.8% from a year ago to 4.7%, the construction industry employed 256,000 more workers nationally compared to April 2018, according to BLS numbers. “The April construction … Read more

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Construction Employment Picks Up in October, Says ABC

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. construction industry added 30,000 net new jobs in October, according to an analysis from the Associated Builders and Contractors of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The industry has added 330,000 net new construction jobs over the past 12 months, a 4.7 percent increase. Additionally, nonresidential construction employment grew by 13,500 net new jobs in October, with job growth split evenly between the heavy and civil engineering subsector (+7,100) and nonresidential specialty trade (+7,500). Construction unemployment dropped to 3.6 percent in October, 0.5 percentage points lower than the previous month, and 0.9 percentage … Read more

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Construction Industry Adds 23,000 Jobs in September, says ABC

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The U.S. construction industry added 23,000 net new positions in September, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During the last 12 months, the industry has added 315,000 net new jobs, an increase of 4.5 percent. Nonresidential construction employment expanded by 18,600 net jobs on a monthly basis, while the residential sector added just 4,400 net positions. Though construction unemployment rose to 4.1 percent in September, it remains low by historical standards. National unemployment dropped to 3.7 percent across all industries, the lowest rate since December 1969. “For several … Read more

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